Mercian Labels, Pillbox Design partner for carton packaging

Short run label and carton printer Mercian Labels and packaging design house Pillbox Design have partnered in an exclusive arrangement to offer an integrated design service for digitally printed labels and packaging.

Mercian Labels has recently expanded its product offering into short run digitally printed cartons and quickly identified a requirement for specialist packaging design support to assist their customers. “We found our early customers loved the quality and concept of digitally printed cartons but were trying to ‘copy and paste’ their label designs onto cartons,” says Adrian Steele of Mercian Labels. “It often doesn’t work that simply, and through Linkedin we sought a strategic packaging design partner for the new market we are building in digital cartons. Pillbox was introduced to us through the business networking site and with their specialist skills and award-wining track record in packaging design they were the ideal choice for us to work with. Having carton design experts integrated into our workflow has really enabled our customers to get the best from their conceptual carton designs. For our operators, its also ensured that we get the most from our press and converting process by reducing costly mistakes for both us and our customers, many of whom have never specified carton designs before.”

Duncan Robinson of Pillbox Design adds, “Folding carton packaging design is an area that we excel in, and its great to finally get to try out some new digital printed carton concepts with customers through Mercian that can’t feasibly be done using the conventional 3 stage litho-based carton manufacturing process. Digital cartons is still very much a niche market, but we can see it growing significantly, especially with the reduced lead times and shorter viable run lengths that Mercian is now able to offer the UK market.”

As well as a carton design service including both structural design and artwork that is consistent with the capabilities of the Xeikon printing process, Pillbox is also offering a fixed-price label design service for Mercian’s labeling customers as part of the formal agreement.

“Companies with relatively short run requirements can now take advantage of the ‘one stop shop’ offer for label and carton design, print and manufacture from Mercian Labels,” the company concludes.